Journal box construction for railway cars



Jan. 30, 1962 T. J. SWEGER JOURNAL BOX CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed Feb. 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. f/ieoaare Jjzz/ Jan. 30, 1962 T. J. SWEGER JOURNAL BOX CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed Feb. 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR.

United States atent I 3,019,064 JOURNAL BOX CONSTRUCTION FOR RAILWAY CARS Theodore J. Sweger, Riverdale, Ill., assignor to Illinois Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Feb. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 92,312 7 Claims. (Cl. 308-38) This invention relates, generally, to the construction of journal boxes for railway cars and it has particular relation to the provision of axle journal centering means therein. This invention is an improvement over the invention disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,903,305, issued September 8, 1959.

Among the objects of this invention are: To provide in a new and improved manner for retaining a journal guide in position on a vertical side wall of a railway car journal box without requiring the making of openings in the side wall; to hold the journal guide retainer in place by a wedging action at its inner and outer ends in turn to hold a journal guide in operative position between the side wall and the axle journal; to lock the outer end of the journal guide retainer in position; and to provide for employing different locking means to hold the journal guide retainer in place.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a half vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 11 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal half sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 3.

retaining means for the outer end of the journal guide retainer or housing FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character 10 designates, generally, a railway car axle which is provided with an axle journal 11 that has at its outer end an end collar 12 which extends radially beyond the bearing surface of the journal 11. The longitudinal axis of rotation of the axle 10 is indicated at 13 and is employed as Y a reference base in defining the invention in certain of the claims.

The axle journal 11 extends into a railway car journal box that is indicated, generally, at 14 and forms an integral part of a side frame of a railway car truck. The journal box 14 includes a top 15, a bottom 16 and vertical side walls 17 and 18. Side frame walls 19 and 20 extend from the vertical side wall 17 toward the journal box at the other end of the truck or side frame as is readily understood. Positioned within the journal box 14 is a journal bearing 21 that rests upon the upper side of the axle journal 11 and is held in position by a wedge 22.

As pointed out in the patent above referred to, it is desirable to prevent movement of the axle journal 11 out of the journal bearing 21 which action tends to take place during the starting or stopping of a train or any time when there is a change in its speed. In order to prevent such movement of the axle journal 11 and to hold it centered with respect to the journal box 14 and the journal bearing 21, journal guides 25 are provided, one being located on each of the vertical side walls 17 and 18.

3,9193% Patented Jan. 30, 1962 Preferably the journal guides 25 are formed of forged bearing bronze and each is provided with a bearing face 26 juxtaposed to the diametrically opposite sides of the axle journal 11 but spaced slightly therefrom as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. At the base of each journal guide 25 there is an integral outstanding flange 27. The central portion of each journal guide 25 is in the form of an outfiaring tenon or is of wedge shape and has inclined ends 28-28 and inclined upper and lower sides 29--29. A recess 30 is provided in the rear of the journal guide 25 in order to reduce the amount of material required.

It will be understood that the journal guides 25 can be of identical configuration. They are held in position on the respective vertical side walls 17 and 18 by journal guide retainers or housings, indicated generally at 33, and preferably formed of malleable iron castings. It will be understood that the journal guide retainers or housings 33 are of left and right construction, depending upon the side walls 17 or 18 on which it is mounted. Since the journal guide retainers or housing 33 are of identical construction other than being of opposite hand, a description of one will suffice for both.

Each journal guide retainer or housing 33 is provided with a socket or mortise 34 which is flared toward the respective side walls 17 or 18 and is defined by inclined end walls 35-35 and inclined upper and lower side walls 36--36. The inclination of the end walls 3535 and side walls 36-36 is the same as the inclination of the ends 2828 and sides 29-29 of the journal guide 25. Accordingly, each journal guide 25 is held in position on its respective side wall 17 or 18. Insofar as the provision of the journal guides 25 is concerned and the provision of means for holding them securely in place: on the side walls 17 and 18, the arrangement corresponds to that disclosed in the patent above referred to. However, in the patent provision is made for holding the journal guide retainer or housing in position by bolts that extend through the respective side walls of the journal box. It is to avoid the necessity for providing openings in the side walls of the journal box while still securely holding the journal guide retainers or housings 33 in postion that the present invention is particularly directed. For this purpose each journal guide retainer or housing 33 has. a tapered extension 37 at its inner end that has wedging egagemet with inner holding means indicated, generally, at 38. Each inner holding means 38 is in the form of a lug or stirrup 39 that, as shown in FIG. 4, is cast integrally with the respective vertical side wall 17 or 18 or may be formed of a U-shaped mrneber the limbs of which are welded securely to the respective inner surface of the side walls 17 and 18 as the case may be. An opening 40 extends through the lug or stirrup 39 which is positioned below the axis 13 of the axle journal 11 and the sides of the opening 40 are tapered from front to rear to correspond to the taper on the extension 37. As a result, when the extension 37 is introduced into the opening 40, it is wedgingly held in position and the arrangement is such that the journal guide retainer or housing 33 likewise is wedgingly held in position to effect a corresponding wedging holding action on the respective journal guide 25.

At the outer end of each journal guide retainer or housing 33 there is a locking portion 43 which includes a stiffening rib 44 cast integrally with the construction. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings the locking portion 43 includes a flange 45 formed integrally therewith and extending laterally awav from the respective side walls 17 or 18. It will be noted that the flange 45 is positioned above the axis of rotation 13 of the axle journal 11. This is done in order to provide a more stable construction and to facilitate application of the journal guide retainer or housing 33 through the open end of the journal box 14.

In order to wedge the flange 45 in place it is provided with an outwardly and upwardly tapering or inclined surface 46 that is arranged to have wedging engagement with a correspondingly tapered or inclined surface 47 on a lug or flange 48 which, in part, constitutes outer holding means for the journal guide retainer or housing 33. The lug or flange 48 can be cast integrally with the respective side wall 17 or 13 or it can be welded thereto as may be desired. Registering apertures 49 and Stt are provided in the flange 45 and lug or flange as for receiving therethrough a bolt 51 having a head 52 overlying the inner side of the flange 45 and a nut 53 at the outer end overlying the outer side of the lug or flange 48. When the nut 53 is tightened on the bolt 51, the flange 45 is drawn into tight engagement with the lug or flange 48 and thus the entire assembly is securely held in place and there is no likelihood that the journal guide 25 or its journal guide retainer or housing 33 will become loose and rattle.

By providing the inner holding means 3% in the 'form of the lugor stirrup 39 and the outer holding'means in the formof the lug 'or flange 48 and constructing the inner and outer ends of the journal guide retainer or housing 33 to cooperate therewith, it is possible to mount the same on the inner side of the respective side wall 17 or 18 without requiring that openings be provided therein where oil might leak out or the respective side wall correspondingiy weakened. Moreover, the construction of the journal guide retainers or housings 33 is such that they and the journal guides 25 assembled therein can 'be applied readily with the axle journal 11 in position in the journal box 14. To accomplish this a journal guide 25 is insorted in the socket or mortise 34 of the journal guide retainer or housing 33 and then the assembly is inserted through the open end of the journal box 14 to the proper side of the axle journal 11. Then the assembly is slipped over the axle journal 11 and downwardly along the side thereof with the locking portion 43 held uppermost. The assembly is guided downwardly until the tapered extension 37 registers with the opening at} in the lug or stirrup 39. Then the extension 37 is inserted in the opening 40 and the journal guide retainer or housing 33 is rocked downwardly to move the flange 45 into engagement with the log or flange tS and to bring the apertures 49 and 50 into registry. Then the bolt 51 is inserted and the nut 53 is tightened thereon to hold the assembly in place. The assembly can be removed from the journal box '14 by reversing the foregoing sequence of operations.

'FiGS. 5, 6 and 7 show another form of holding means that can'be employed in conjunction with the locking portion 43 of the journal guide retainer or housing 33 to hold it in position. -As shown more clearly in FlG. 5, the outer end of the locking portion 43 is modified to omit the flange 45 and to have an inclined surface '56 which corresponds, generally, with the inclined surface 46 previously described. The inclined surface 56 :in the modified construction is arranged to 'wedgingly engage aicorrespondingly inclined surface '57 on a lug 58 that can be cast integrally with the'respeotivefsidewall 17 or'1'8 or welded thereto as illustrated. The log 58 has an outstanding bottom wall 59 and an upstanding locking wall 60 all integrally formed therewith. The upstanding locking wall Gil has a rectangular aperture or window 61 for cooperating, as shown in FIG. 6, with the outflared upper end 62 of one arm 63 of a U-shaped spring clip that is indicated, generally, at 64. The other arm 65 of'the spring clip 64 is wrapped around the locking portion 43 of the journal guide retainer or housing 33 as indicated at as.

It will be understood that, when the locking portion 43 of the modified construction shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 is swung downwardly to place the inclined surface 56 in wedging engagement with the inclined surface 57 on the lug 58, the outilared upper end 62 of the spring clip tion 43 of the journal guide retainer or housing 33 is securely held in position. When it is desired to remove the journal guide retainer or housing 33 from the construction employing the locking means shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, a suitable tool is inserted through the aperture or window 61 and the outflared upper end 62 of the spring clip 64 is moved toward the respective side walls 17 or 18 to the position shown by broken lines. Then the journal guide retainer or housing 33 can be swung up wardly out of operative position and removed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In combination, a railway car journal box having spaced vertical sidewalls and an-axle journal spaced from said side walls, inner and outer holding means on at least one side wall in the form of lugs secured-to and extending toward said axle journal from said one side wall, an elongated journal guide retainer on the inner side of said one side wall in-horizontal aligned relation with the axis of rotation of said axle journal and spaced therefrom,said journal guide retainer having an extension at its inner end interfitting with the lug of said inner holding means and a locking portion at its outer end secured to the lug of said outer holding means, said journal guide retainer also having a journal guide receiving socket, and a journal guide in said socket with a bearing face on one'sidejuxtaposed to said axle journal and the other side reacting against the inner side of said one wall, said journal guide being held in operative position with respect Ito :said axle journal and-urged toward said one side wall :by saidjournal guide housing when said extension and locking portion thereof are held by said inner and outer holding means.

2. In combination, a railway car journal .box having spaced vertical side walls and an axle journal spaced from said side walls, inner and outer holding means on at least one side wall in the form of lugs securedto and extending toward said axle journal from said one side wall, the lug of said inner holding means having a horizontally extending opening tapered from front to rear, an elongated journal guide retainer on the inner :side of said one side wall in horizontal alignedrelatiou with the axis of rotation of .said axle journal and spacedtherefrom, said journal guide retainer having an extension at its inner end interfitting with the :lug of said inner holding means and a locking portion at its outer end secured to the lug of said outer holding means, said extension of said journal guide retainer having a taper corresponding to the taper of said opening in said lug of said inner holding means and wedgingly engaging thesarne, said journal guide retainer also having a journal guide receiving socket, and a journal guide in said socket with a beariug face on one side juxtaposed to said axle journal and the other side reacting against the inner side of :said one wall, said journal guide being held in operative position with respect to said axle "journal'and urged toward said one side wall by said journal guide housing when said extension and locking portion thereof are held by said inner and outer holding means.

3. in combination, a railway car journal'box having spaced vertical side walls and an axle journal spaced from said side walls, inner and outer holding means on .at least one side wall in the form of lugs secured to and extending toward said axle journal from said one side wall,.the lug of said outer holding means having an upwardly and outwardly inclined surface in a plane transverse to said axis of rotation of said axle journal, an elongated journal guide retaineron the inner side of said one side wall in horizontal aligned relation with the axis of rotation of said axle journal and spaced therefrom,'said journal guide retainer having an extension at its inner end interlitting with the lug of said inner holding means and a locking portion at its outer end secured to the lug of said outer holding means, said lockingportion of said journal guide retainer having a surface at its outer end inclined to correspond to the inclination of said surface on said lug of said outer holding means'and wedgingly engaging the same, said journal guide retainer also having a journal guide receiving socket, and a journal guide in said socket with a bearing face on one side juxtaposed to said axle journal and the other side reacting against the inner side of said one wall, said journal guide being held in operative position with respect to said axle journal and urged toward said one side wall by said journal guide housing when said extension and locking portion thereof are held by said inner and outer holding means.

4. In combination, a railway car journal box having spaced vertical side walls and an axle journal spaced from said side walls, inner and outer holding mean on at least one side wall in the form of lugs secured to and extending toward said axle journal from said one side wall, the lug of said inner holding mean having a horizontally extending opening tapered from front to rear, the lug of said outer holding means having an upwardly and outwardly inclined surface in a plane transverse to said axis of rotation of said axle journal, an elongated journal guide retainer on the inner side of said one side wall in horizontal aligned relation with the axis of rotation of said axle journal and spaced therefrom, said journal guide retainer having an extension at its inner end interfitting with the lug of said inner holding means and a locking portion at its outer end secured to the lug of said outer holding means, said extension of said journal guide retainer having a taper corresponding to the taper of said opening in said lug of said inner holding means and wedgingly engaging the same, said locking portion of said journal guide retainer having a surface at its outer end inclined to correspond to the inclination of said surface on said lug of said outer holding means and wedgingly engaging the same, said journal guide retainer also having a journal guide receiving socket, and a journal guide in said socket with a bearing face on one side juxtaposed to said axle journal and the other side reacting against the inner side of said one wall, said journal guide being held in operative position with respect to said axle journal and urged toward said one side wall by said journal guide housing when said extension and locking portion thereof are held by said inner and outer holding means.

5. In combination, a railway car journal box having spaced vertical side Walls and an axle journal spaced from said side walls, inner and outer holding means on at least one side wall in the form of lugs secured to and extending toward said axle journal from said one side wall, an elongated journal guide retainer on the inner side of said one side wall in horizontal aligned relation with the axis of rotation of said axle journal and spaced therefrom, said journal guide retainer having an extension at its inner end interiitting with the lug of said inner holding means and a locking portion at its outer end secured to the lug of said outer holding means, said journal guide retainer also having a journal guide receiving socket, a journal guide in said socket with a bearing face on one side juxtaposed to said axle journal and the other side reacting against the inner side of said one wall, said journal guide being held in operative position with respect to said axle journal and urged toward said one side wall by said journal guide housing when said extension and locking portion thereof are held by said inner and outer holding means, the lug of said outer holding means having an aperture, and means on said locking portion of said journal guide retainer interfitting with said aperture in said lug of said outer holding means and locking said journal guide retainer in place.

6. In combination, a railway car journal box having spaced vertical side walls and an axle journal spaced from said side walls, inner and outer holding means on at least one side wall in the form of lugs secured to and extending toward said axle journal from said one side wall, an elongated journal guide retainer on the inner side of said one side wall in horizontal aligned relation with the axis of rotation of said axle journal and spaced therefrom, said journal guide retainer having an extension at its inner end interfitting with the lug of said inner holding means and a locking portion at its outer end secured to the lug of said outer holding means, said journal guide retainer also having a journal guide receiving socket, a journal guide in said socket with a bearing face on one side juxtaposed to said axle journal and the other side reacting against the inner side of said one wall, said journal guide being held in operative position with respect to said axle journal and urged toward said one side wall by said journal guide housing when said extension and locking portion thereof are held by said inner and outer holding means, the lug of said outer holding means and said locking portion of said journal guide retainer having registering apertures, and bolt means extending through said registering apertures and locking said journal guide retainer in place.

7. In combination, a railway car journal box having spaced vertical side Walls and an axle journal spaced from said side walls, inner and outer holding means on at least one side wall in the form of lugs secured to and extending toward said axle journal from said one side wall, an elongated journal guide retainer on the inner side of said one side wall in horizontal aligned relation with the axis of rotation of said axle journal and spaced therefrom, said journal guide retainer having an extension at its inner end interfitting with the lug of said inner holding means and a locking portion at its outer end secured to the lug of said outer holding means, said journal guide retainer also having a journal guide receiving socket, a journal guide in said socket with a bearing face on one side juxtaposed to said axle journal and the other side reacting against the inner side of said one wall, said journal guide being held in operative position with respect to said axle journal and urged toward said one side Wall by said journal guide housing when said extension and locking portion thereof are held by said inner and outer holding means, the lug of said outer holding means including a transversely apertured upstanding locking wall generally parallel to said one side wall and spaced therefrom toward said axle journal, and a generally U-shaped spring clip having one arm secured to said locking portion of said journal guide retainer and the other arm extending along said locking wall with its upper end engaging one side of the aperture in said locking wall and locking said journal guide retainer in place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,941,486 Pilcher Jan. 2, 1934 1,967,512 Pilcher July 24, 1934 2,903,305 Sweger et al. Sept. 8, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 658,446 France Jan. 25, 1929 604,049 Canada Aug. 23, 1960 

